“Evil gains its strength when good men do nothing. You are a good man, Ichabod Crane.” Despite that musing from Katrina in episode six “The Sin Eater,” Ichabod’s best efforts to rescue his wife, stop the resurrection of War itself and keep those he cares about safe weren’t enough to stop evil (in a familiar form) from prevailing in the two-hour, definition-of-epic season finale of “Sleepy Hollow.”

A bombshell from within his own trusted circle saw the downfall of Ichabod as his allies were sent in every direction and a life-changing twist left the swashbuckling hero literally buried in problems. But before we close the (coffin) lid on this season of “Sleepy Hollow,” let’s recap what went down in “The Indispensable Man” and “Bad Blood.”

Undead Admirer: While attempting to decipher Ichabod’s foray into texting – “more telescope conception” and “store cellophane recession” = “poor telephone reception” – Abbie gets an unexpected visit from (neck rolls) Andy, who comes bearing an offer: hand over Washington’s Bible and Moloch will give her a respected position in his new order. The embattled admirer of Abbie also declares his love for and loyalty to the leftanent, but she declines both offers. Heartbroken, Andy retreats to the tunnels where he begs Moloch’s disembodied voice for a place at his side, before being spun into a cocoon by a swarm of locusts. Later, he bursts from his mummified state as a slimy, beefed up creature with the elongated head of Alien, the bald sinister allure of Lex Luthor and a vengeful look in his black eyes. This doesn’t bode well.

Book of Secrets: Mulling over the hidden message in Washington’s Bible from last week, Ichabod dives into his photographic memory for some inkling of the founding father’s plan, leading to the story of Lazarus in the Bible. Noticing a few false verses tacked on in Washington’s edition, he uses the lemon juice concoction to reveal a letter Washington wrote to “Ichabod Crane, Esquire.” The short version: Before Washington died, he made plans to be brought back to life (like Lazarus) for one final mission. As Zombie Georgie Washington, he was able to skirt the limitations of mortality and travel back and forth between the living and the dead to chart a map to purgatory. With this “indispensable weapon against the evils of war,” Ichabod and Abbie could retrieve Katrina and deal a blow to Moloch’s plan. But where is the map? Noticing the name Rev. Alfred Knapp, who lost his head in the pilot, on the list of resurrection conspirators, the pair enlist Henry, aka The Sin Eater, to locate the reverend’s prayer beads that were present at the resurrection to locate the map. (Side note: couldn’t Washington have just drawn the map in the Bible? He seemed confident enough about the Bible’s safety to leave a note detailing the map’s existence.)

Sneaky Little President: At the reverend’s grave (after Ichabod tries to recount his love story to yet another electronic device, this time Siri), Henry finds out the hard way the beads are hexed, pushing his powers to the brink for answers and almost getting shocked to death in the process. The near-death experience leads to an argument between the Witnesses over Ichabod’s blind faith in Washington’s 200-year plan and Abbie’s fear his love of Katrina is clouding his judgment. “Entering purgatory could open the floodgates,” Abbie pleads. “If the day ever comes when you have to choose between the greater good and Katrina… are you willing to sacrifice her freedom?” The next logical step is to think of where Washington, being the clever Mason he was, hid the map, likely wanting it near his resting place. With several decoy burial sites peppered throughout history, the team uses the fragments Henry gleamed from the deadly prayer beads to determine the first POTUS was likely buried on Bannerman Island along the Hudson River. On the trek to the grave, Abbie confides in Henry that she can’t shake the prophecy that Ichabod is destined to turn over her soul to Moloch. Telling of a testament stricken from the Bible that spoke of such a prophecy, he recites, “When the beats comes up from the abyss, a witness will surrender a witness and neither will survive.” Heavy stuff. Henry does, however, add a little comfort by saying, “Prophecies have a nasty way of coming true if you let them.” In the clearing they find a rock that, when repositioned, opens the door to a hidden cavern. Of course it does.

A Father’s Sacrifice: Back at the station, in the night’s only detour from the main mission, Irving is dealing with the real-world consequences of the supernatural incidents plaguing Sleepy Hollow. After being questioned about last week’s events where his possessed daughter killed a priest and a cop, the Feds bring in Macey for DNA testing to see if she was responsible. As her innocent eyes well up with tears, Irving is told if her DNA matches that found on the priest’s neck, she will be charged with murder. By episode’s end, to protect his daughter, Irving confesses to the murders and is escorted out of the station in handcuffs for all his colleagues to see. Till next season, captain.

Final Resting Place (of Booby Traps): Descending into the elaborate underground burial site, the trio finds the letters “IM” denoting “The Indispensable Man,” a nickname for Washington. His body is somewhere in the tomb but likely laced with traps. Finding the insignia of a Roman dictator, Cincinnatus, who ascribed to the philosophy that power should be given to those who want it least, Ichabod inserts his Mason ring into the seal, revealing the resting place of the nation’s dollar bill mascot. Curled in his rotten hands (as one should look after 200 years, Ichabod) is the map that ignites a glimmer of hope in Ichabod’s eye and a look of worry in Abbie’s. Seconds later, mutant Andy barrels in, blocking the exit and ferociously attacking them (I guess his sweet spot for Abbie has disappeared). Henry, using his magic touch, reminds Andy of his humanity long enough for the darkness to leave his soul. He pleads for them to burn the map and free him of his pain. Abbie obliges the latter with a pole through the head. Having set off a self-destruct lever, the sanctuary starts to crumble and the team finds a way out through the crypt (this got very “National Treasure” real quick). Outside, Ichabod makes the fateful decision to burn the map in fear his love of Katrina is guiding him the wrong way. “If using this map meant betraying your trust; that is something I cannot do, for the world and for our friendship… I choose to forge my own fate with you,” Ichabod says to Abbie (exploding the heads of Ichabbie shippers everywhere). Sulking back at his cabin, with memories of his wife running through his head, Ichabod back treads on that promise to Abbie, using his photographic memory to redraw the map he destroyed. Ruh-roh.

Ichabod (Tom Mison) and Abbie (Nicole Beharie) navigate through purgatory in the season finale of “Sleepy Hollow.” — Fox photo

War is Coming: In part two, Moloch, in the clearest light we have ever seen him, summons a creature from below the white trees in the forest just as we see another horseman, with a flaming sword, ride against a solar eclipse. Poor Henry, having seen the premonition in his sleep, barrels into Ichabod’s cabin with no pleasantries: “I believe that on this day, Moloch seeks to unleash hell on earth.” And good morning to you too. To be exact, it is the Horseman of War that is coming to Sleepy Hollow, and on the 13th anniversary of Abbie and Jenny’s first encounter with the trees and Moloch no less. Searching the always helpful archives for a plan to stop War’s arrival, Ichabod, Abbie, Jenny and Henry somehow determine that putting a binding spell on the soil from which the Horseman will rise can stop him. Unfortunately, there are no more witches in Sleepy Hollow – or ones with heartbeats, that is — meaning their only option is Katrina. Carefully mentioning his doodle of the purgatory map to Abbie, who is both peeved and pleased by his useful noggin, Ichabod points out that the map’s points converge on a spot of trees a wooded area in Sleepy Hollow. Just go with it.

Path to Purgatory: The admittedly insane plan, for Ichabod and Abbie to walk into purgatory and grab Katrina, doesn’t sit well with Jenny, who pulls Abbie aside to voice her worries about the still–real prophecy that Ichabod will betray Abbie. The plea falls on deaf ears though because they have no choice. “I wanna stop running from this bastard, Jenny. Don’t you?” Abbie asks. She wants to face Moloch for herself and for Jenny. But Jenny fears that she will loss her sister again, to which Abbie swears she will return. (Aside: This type of season finale sisterly bonding never ends well.) Arriving at the point designated wooded area in the middle of nowhere (where only good things will happen), Henry reminds Ichabod and Abbie that “Purgatory is a maze of temptation.” To enter, they must recite an incantation and then repeat it when they are ready to leave. Before stepping into what can only be a bad idea, Henry reminds the two to cling to their bond and their hope because they are going to be tested on the other side. Oh, and if you accept any type of food, drink or hospitality, you will be trapped there forever. Happy travels!

What Could Have Been: In purgatory, Abbie awakes in Corbin’s cabin with him and Andy looking very healthy for a guy who lost his head and another that was turned into a mutant. They tell Abbie she was sent home from her FBI training academy, the opportunity she decided against after the events of the pilot, to recover from an injury. This was the life was wanted before she met Ichabod. Speaking of Ichabod, he finds himself in London after returning from the war a hero (his “decisive command helped the British win the Battle of Yorktown and the war). His father (guest star Victor Garber, “Alias”) greets him with a fatherly love that startles Ichabod because his father disavowed him for betraying his country. Overcome with the desire to once again be in his father’s good graces, Ichabod can’t help but embrace his father with tears in his eyes. But just as both Ichabod and Abbie are offered temptations (Corbin’s famous apple pie and Ichabod’s father’s congratulatory toast), they remember how these are simply mirrors of their desires. Denying the validity of these lives (and sending Corbin and Ichabod’s father into psychopathic fits), Ichabod and Abbie are ejected and sent to a misty wooded area where creatures and horrors wander aimlessly in the dark background. This is more like it, purgatory. (Aside: I died laughing at the two’s fist bump to verify they were, in fact, themselves. This show has ingenious running jokes.)

Witnesses Part: Locating Katrina on her daily outing to the church where she gave up her son, Ichabod and Abbie recap the plan: spring the witch from purgatory so she can stop War from arriving. The problem? According to Katrina, no soul can leave without forgiveness and if they do, it will break down the barrier between worlds. Naturally. The only way to sidestep that convenient inconvenience is to have a soul take Katrina’s place. Ichabod offers up himself, while Abbie agrees it should be her. She reasons that they we’re chosen to sacrifice anything they had to so humanity could endure and people had the chance to choose their own destiny. Ichabod fears this is them playing into the prophecy he would hand Abbie over to Moloch but it is the only option. Gifted an amulet to ward off Moloch, Abbie stays behind, sharing one last look of acceptance with Ichabod as he travels back with Katrina. Not to waste any time, Moloch transports Abbie to the woods where he attacks her. Getting away with the help of the amulet, she is again pulled into another mysterious location. Only this time she notices, two familiar faces: younger versions of herself and Jenny.

The Mills Sisters, Past and Present: Jenny, having stayed behind to follow a lead from Corbin’s recording, heads to an abandoned church Corbin thought held clues. There, she finds that Moloch’s warning to Ichabod, “The saint’s name is a sign,” was an actual sign for the church’s name. Her eyes open wide when she sees what it says (we don’t see yet). On her way to tell Abbie and Ichabod (sadly, there is no cellphone reception in purgatory), the Headless Horseman stops her in her tracks, nearly shooting her before demolishing her car and leaving her for dead. Meanwhile, in purgatory, younger Abbie tells older Abbie that she and younger Jenny are the memories of the day the sisters first encountered Moloch, banished to purgatory by the creature so that the women wouldn’t remember what they actually saw. Desperate to know, younger Abbie gives her counterpart a peek (we aren’t privy to that yet either).

Family Reunion: After embracing her husband and expressing her joy with finally being in the land of the living again, Katrina uses her magic to find the place where War will rise. But at the white trees, she has trouble finding anything to bind in the soil because there is no body to rise. Henry, quickly losing his soft-spoken nature, slams both Ichabod and Katrina to the white trees and reveals this was all part of his plan. GASP. SHOCK. MACAULAY CULKIN HOME ALONE FACE! Henry planted the idea of the sin eater in Katrina’s mind so she would lead Abbie and. Ichabod to him. He says that he was able to dupe them because Ichabod and Katrina were so desperate to be reunited and Abbie was so dead set on finding a purpose for her pain. Here’s the deal: Henry is the Horseman of War, risen 13 years ago, not today, by Moloch when Abbie and Jenny happened to stumble upon them. His premonition was a memory. Also, just as Abraham was mortal before he became the Headless Horseman, Henry was also mortal. In fact, his name was Jeremy and he was the son of Katrina and Ichabod before he was murdered by his mother’s coven. Brought back from the brink of death by his own magical blood, Jeremy laid in his coffin, which was right before the white tree, for two centuries,

feeding on the vines that grew in and slowly building an unfathomable hatred for the parents that abandoned him. Moloch, who Jeremy sees as his true father, resurrected him and led him to the church where Jenny found a sign that read, St. Henry’s Parish, from which Jeremy took his new name. Just as he reveals the truth, Abbie is given the vision of Henry’s betrayal, but it is too late. She is trapped in purgatory with nowhere to go. And while Jeremy/Henry is all for the family reunion, he cuts it short as the Headless Horseman rides in and claims the prize he was promised: Katrina. As Ichabod watches powerlessly, Jeremy explains that now that the two witnesses are separated, the second seal for the apocalypse can be broken. Tossing his father him into the coffin below, he tells him to suffer and lose faith just as he did, before taking out the second seal and breaking in front of Ichabod. “War isn’t coming to Sleepy Hollow, it has been here waiting all along. And now it begins,” seethes Jeremy as he slams the door on Ichabod’s coffin and this incredibly entertaining season of “Sleepy Hollow.”

What did you think, Sleepyheads? Was the finale all you hoped for? Thoughts on Jeremy/Henry? For the record, I was blown away at how well the executed the finale and the many parts that led to Henry/Jeremy unmasking. Let me know what you think in the comments! And thanks for reading my recaps this season. be sure to follow the StarNews for all the latest “Sleepy Hollow” production news!

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